Interchangeable electronic carrier tape feeder adaptable to various surface mount assembly machines

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for feeding a carrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexed pockets for carrying small components, and used in conjunction with various pick and place assembly machines for surface-mounting of the small components onto a printed circuit board or other assembly substrate. The apparatus has an interchangeable electronic feeder adaptable to various surface mount assembly machines and a set of height support adapters. The feeder has both a flip-chip and non flip-chip capabilities. The interchangeable electronic feeder further has a tape guiding assembly, an indexing assembly, an adjustable push-up tool assembly, and a flipping-converting assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of surface mountassembly machines. More particularly, the present invention relates tothe field of an interchangeable electronic carrier tape feeder adaptablefor use in various surface mount assembly machines.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Fully automated surface mount assembly machines are used for surfacemount operation in populating printed circuit boards (PCB) and are knownin the prior art. They dramatically raises the productivity in componentassembly and lower the cost of production. Prior art conventional tapefeeders, primarily mechanical, plus a few electronic/electro-mechanicaldesigns, are used in conjunction with these surface mount assemblymachines to sequentially index carrier tape containing surface mountelectronic components within uniformly spaced cavities and to presentthese components consistently and repeatedly at a proscribed "dead spot"(aka pick point) for pickup by a vacuum probe and subsequent assemblyplacement.

A carrier tape packaging assembly with small surface mount componentstherein is fed through the tape feeder, and the surface mount assemblymachine picks up the component at the designated pick point and placesthe surface mount component on the printed circuit board (PCB). Aprincipal disadvantage with these conventional tape feeders is that theyare machine specific and are thus not interchangeable for use with othertypes of surface mount assembly machines. In other words, virtuallyevery different type and style of conventional tape feeder ismanufactured for a particular make and model of surface mount assemblymachine and cannot be used with any other type of surface mount assemblymachine. This condition creates a proliferation of conventional tapefeeders needed in a modern factory where a variety of surface mountassembly machines are often utilized. Typically, the capital investmentand floor space requirements for backup tape feeders exceeds thecorresponding investment and space requirements for the assembly machinemainframes.

A further disadvantage of conventional tape feeders is their inabilityto repeatably index and consistently position (at the pick point)extremely small surface mount components, many of which have decreasedin size by a power of ten to as small as ten thousandths of an inch perside, and are growing ever smaller.

An additional disadvantage of conventional tape feeders is that they areill equipped to properly present integrated circuits in the form ofsingulated bare die sawn from wafers to assembly placement machines.Accurate, repeatable feeding to the pick point, carefully handling ofdelicate bare die to avoid damage, and especially presenting these baredie in a choice of face up or inverted position to accommodate themutually popular assembly orientations of chip on board and flip-chipare requirements generally not satisfied by conventional tape feeders,individually, and especially not in totality.

Another disadvantage of conventional tape feeders is that they arededicated to one specific width of carrier tape and a different feedermust be used for each carrier tape width used. In addition, mostconventional tape feeders are dedicated to one and only one componentcavity pitch. Thus, when carrier tapes of same width but differentcomponent cavity pitches are used, as is often the case, a multiplicityof one width, one pitch feeders, are required.

It is therefore highly desirable to have a very efficient and also veryeffective design and construction of an interchangeable electronicfeeder adaptable to various surface mount assembly machines, therebyeliminating the need to match a particular feeder to a particularsurface mount assembly machine. It is also desirable to provide aninterchangeable electronic feeder which has both flip-chip and nonflip-chip capabilities. It is further desirable to provide aninterchangeable electronic feeder which can be used with multiple widthsof carrier tapes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a novel and unique apparatus for feeding acarrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexed pockets forcarrying small components, and used in conjunction with various pick andplace assembly machines for surface-mounting of the small componentsonto a printed circuit board (PCB). The apparatus comprises aninterchangeable electronic feeder adaptable to various surface mountassembly machines and a set of height support adapters. Theinterchangeable electronic feeder has both flip-chip and non flip-chipcapabilities. The interchangeable electronic feeder has a low-profilehousing which houses a tape guiding assembly, an indexing assembly, anadjustable push-up tool assembly, and a flipping-converting assembly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lowprofile interchangeable electronic feeder which can be employed withvarious surface mount assembly machines.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a set of heightsupport adapters so that the interchangeable electronic feeder can beadjusted to the pick height requirement for each surface mount assemblymachine.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide aninterchangeable electronic feeder incorporating both flip-chip and nonflip-chip capabilities, and capable of accommodating different carriertape widths.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aninterchangeable electronic feeder with a carrier tape guiding assembly,so that it can accommodate different carrier tape widths.

It is another object of the present invention to provide aninterchangeable electronic feeder with a programmable indexing feature,so that the specific component cavity pitch of the carrier tape in usecan be readily selected and thereby matched to a range of carrier tapecavity pitch dimensions.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide aninterchangeable electronic feeder with an adjustable push-up toolassembly, so that the adjustable push-up means can raise a smallcomponent away from the carrier tape and can be preset in alternatepositions to accommodate different carrier tape widths.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aninterchangeable electronic feeder adaptable for use with a conventionalAC adapter module which can be used as an alternate power source whenplugged into a 110 V AC outlet to provide DC power to theinterchangeable electronic feeder.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theinterchangeable electronic feeder incorporates both flip-chip and nonflip-chip capabilities.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, theinterchangeable electronic feeder comprises only a flip-chip capability.

In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, theinterchangeable electronic feeder comprises only a non flip-chipcapability, wherein it may be used for a wide range of surface mountcomponents, including but not limited to singulated bare die.

Further novel features and other objects of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, discussion andthe appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustrationonly and not limitation, there is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the present invention apparatus, showing aL-shaped base, an adaptor installed on the L-shaped base and aninterchangeable electronic feeder installed on the adaptor;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the L-shaped base;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the height support adapters ofthe present invention apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the interchangeable electronic feeder ofthe present invention apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the interchangeable electronic feeder ofthe present invention apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an open side elevational view of the interchangeableelectronic feeder of the present invention apparatus;

FIG. 7 is an open side elevational view of the interchangeableelectronic feeder, showing the indexing assembly;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the interchangeable electronic feeder,showing the adjustable push-up tool assembly;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the push-up pin mechanism of the adjustablepush-up tool assembly;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational of the push-up pin mechanism of theadjustable push-up tool assembly;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational of the interchangeable electronic feeder,showing the flipping-converting assembly;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the flipping mechanism of theflipping-converting assembly; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13--13 of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the drawings, it should be understood thatsuch embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative ofbut a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which canrepresent applications of the principles of the present invention.Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art towhich the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit,scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined inthe appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown at 10 a perspective view of thepresent invention apparatus which comprises an interchangeableelectronic feeder 12 interchangeably used in conjunction with thevarious pick and place assembly machines or surface mount assemblymachines (not shown) and a set of height support brackets or adapters 14(only one is shown). The apparatus 10 is used for feeding a conventionalcarrier tape 2 with successive sprocket holes (not shown) and indexedpockets 4 for carrying small components (not shown), and used inconjunction with various conventional pick and place assembly machinesfor surface-mounting of the small components onto a printed circuitboard (PCB). The conventional carrier tape 2 is wound up on aconventional reel 3.

A typical configuration of prior art pick and place assembly machineswill have a plurality of slot bays which are a typical L-shaped base 5shown in FIG. 2. The L-shaped base 5 has a vertical power rail 6 withcontact pins 7 for supplying power to prior art mechanical feeders (notshown) or the electronic feeder 12. The horizontal support 8 is used forseating the prior art mechanical feeders or the adaptor 14 onto the pickand place assembly machines. The L-shaped base 5 further has a lockingmeans 9 for locking and securing the prior art mechanical feeders or theadaptor 14 of the present invention apparatus 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a side elevational view of one ofthe set of height support adapters 14 of the present invention apparatus10. Each adaptor 14 are substantially identical, and to the extent theyare, only one will be described in detail. The principal differencesbetween each of the adapters is that height of the pick point is changedto conform to various pick and place assembly machines and the locatingprovisions are customized to adapt to each pick and place assemblymachine.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the height support adaptor 14 is used forinterchangeably mounting the feeder 12 to the various pick and placeassembly machines. The adaptor 14 has a first portion 16 which iscustomized to accommodate one of the various pick and place assemblymachines, and a second portion 18 which is common among all the adaptersfor receiving the electronic feeder 12. The first portion 16 has contactsockets 20 located at one end 22 of the adaptor 14 for establishingelectrical and electronic connection with one of the various pick andplace assembly machines. The adaptor 14 is installed on the horizontalsupport 8 of the L-shaped base 5, such that the contact sockets 20 areplugged into the contact pins 7 on the vertical power rail 6 of theL-shaped base 5 and secured thereto by the locking means 9 (see FIG. 1).

The second portion 18 has contact pins 24 located on top 28 of theadaptor 14 for establishing electrical and electronic connection withthe feeder 16. The second portion 18 of the adaptor 14 has a lockingmeans 26. The feeder 12 is seated on the top 28 and plugs into thecontact pins 24 of the adaptor 14 such that the locking means 26 securesthe feeder 12 to the adaptor 14.

The adaptor 14 further comprises internal wires (shown as dashed lines)connected between the contact sockets 20 of the first portion 16 and thecontact pins 24 of the second portion 18 for establishing electrical andelectronic connection between the feeder 12 and one of the various pickand place assembly machines. For pick and place assembly machineswithout the vertical power rails or other on board electrical power, astandard, commercially available adapter module (not shown) may beprovided with the electronic feeder 12, and plugged into a standardpower outlet to provide requisite DC power to the electronic feeder 12.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, there are shown respective perspectiveview, top plan view, and open side elevational view of the electronicfeeder 12 of the present invention apparatus. The electronic feeder 12has a self-contained low-profile housing 30 for housing a carrier tapeguiding assembly 32, an indexing assembly 33, an adjustable push-up toolassembly 34, and a flip-converting assembly 35 (see FIG. 8 therein. Thefeeder 12 is also provided with a longitudinal support bracket 28 whichis attached to the side of the housing 30 for retaining the reel 4 thatholds the carrier tape 2. The low profile housing 30 further has aswitch means 11 for switching the feeder 12 into a flip-chip mode or nonflip-chip mode.

The operating voltage for the electronic feeder 12 is approximately 6VDC and the peak current drain is approximately 500 milliampere (ma).The self-contained low profile housing 30 of the feeder 12 isapproximately 2.38" (60.5 mm) from the base to the pick point, for boththe flip-chip operation and the non flip-chip operation. The width ofthe low profile housing 30 is approximately 1.25" (31.8 mm) and theheight of the housing without the adaptor is approximately 3.0" (76.2mm). The pick height is approximately 3.38" (60.5 mm) for both nonflip-chip operation or flip-chip operation.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the carrier tape guiding assembly 32 hasmeans for accommodating different carrier tape widths. The guidingassembly 32 comprises a bottom support plate 36 which is the top of thelow profile housing 30 for receiving the carrier tape 2 thereon, a siderail 38 integrally formed with the bottom support plate 36 at rightangle, and at least two spaced apart spring-loaded wire guides 40attached to the bottom support plate 36 and remote from the side rail 38for biasing the carrier tape 2 inwardly towards the side rail 38 butproviding flexibility to accommodate different carrier tape widths. Thecarrier tape guiding assembly can accommodate multiple carrier tapewidths of standard size, such as 8 mm, 12 mm, 16 mm, 24 mm, 32 mm, and44 mm.

FIG. 7 shows the indexing assembly 33 of the electronic feeder 12.Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the indexing assembly 33 comprises asprocket wheel 44 with sprocket teeth 46 adapted to engage thesuccessive sprocket holes on the carrier tape 2 for advancing theindexed pockets 4 of the carrier tape to a push-up area 42. The sprocketwheel 44 has 30 sprocket teeth 46, wherein each is at approximately 12°.The feeder 12 has means for driving the sprocket wheel 44 which includesa worm wheel shaft 48, a worm wheel 50 (anti-backlash) coupled to theworm wheel shaft 48, an indexing gear motor 52 for driving the wormshaft 48, an index motor mount 53 for holding the indexing gear motor52, and a sensor means 54 for sensing when to turn on or off theindexing assembly 33. All of these components are conventional in theart.

The indexing accuracy of the indexing assembly 33 is approximately±0.001" (±0.025 mm) maximum variation. The indexing time for nonflip-chip operation is approximately 300 ms. The indexing time for flipchip operation is approximately 500 ms. The index increment is switchselectable for 2 mm, 4 mm, 8 mm, 12 mm, 16 mm, and 24 mm componentcavity pitch, and can be programmed for additional increments if andwhen required.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a side elevational view of theadjustable push-up tool assembly 34 which comprises a push-up pinmechanism 37 for allowing transverse-position adjustment of a push-uppin 56. The adjustable push-up tool assembly 34 further has means foractuating the push-up pin mechanism 37 to the small components one at atime from the carrier tape 2 when a successive one of the indexedpockets 4 arrives at the push-up area 42. The means includes a lift gearmotor 57, a mounting bracket 58 for holding the lift gear motor 57, alift sensor means 59, a lift cam hub 60, a cam follower 61, a lift lever62, and a spring means 63 for positively pulling down the lift lever 62and negatively pulling up the lift lever 62. All of these components inthe actuating means for actuating the push-up pin mechanism areconventional in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, there are shown respective top plan viewand partial side cross-sectional view of the push-up pin mechanism 37.The push-up pin mechanism 37 includes a leaf spring 64 for flexing in aup and down direction, a yoke 65 mounted underneath the leaf spring 64,a positioning V-shaped groove block 66 mounted above the leaf spring 64and aligned with the yoke 65 for providing orientation, and a springclip 67. The positioning V-shaped groove block 66 has a 8 mm slot 68, a12 mm slot 69 and a 16 mm slot 70 for receiving the push-up pin 56 inone of the three slots such that the spring clip 67 retains the push-uppin 56 therein without the ability to rotate, thus assuring fixedorientation of asymmetric pin tip 72 geometries. The yoke 65 is actuatedby the lift lever 62 which in turn moves the leaf spring 64 in the up ordown direction which in turns moves the positioning V-shaped grooveblock 66 which in turn moves the push-up pin 56, thereby pushing thesmall components one at a time from the carrier tape 2 when thesuccessive one of the indexed pockets 4 arrives at the push-up area 42.The push-up pin 56 has a generally square shaped body 71 with achangeable pin tip 72 to conform to the size and shape of the componentto be lifted.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown a side elevational view of theflip-converting assembly 35 which has a flipping mechanism 39 forallowing flipping of the singulated bare die. The flip-convertingassembly 35 further has means for actuating the flipping mechanism 39 topick-up and flip the bare die one at a time from the push-up area 42.The flip-converting assembly 35 further includes a flip gear motor 73, amounting bracket 74 for holding the flip gear motor 73, a worm flipwheel 75, a worm flip shaft 76 coupled with the worm flip wheel 75, andsensor means 77 and 78. All of these components in the actuating meansfor actuating the flipping mechanism are conventional in the art.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective of the flipping mechanism 39 of theflip-converting assembly 35. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the flippingmechanism 39 comprises a vacuum flipper 79, a hollow flipping arm 80with one end connected to the vacuum flipper 79 by a thumb screw 81, anda head portion 82 connected to the other end of the hollow flipping arm80. The vacuum flipper 79 has a vacuum groove 83 to serve as a vacuumconduit.

FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the head portion 82 of theflipping mechanism 39. Referring to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the headportion 82 has a top side 84 with two opposite tip receivers 85 and 86,and an opposite bottom side 87 with a central tip receiver 88. Each tipreceiver corresponds to the one of the three slots of the positioningV-shaped groove block 66 of the push-up pin mechanism 37 of theadjustable push-up tool assembly 34. The flipping arm 80 swings to thepush-up area 42, so that one of the three tip receivers 85, 86 and 87picks up the singulated bare die one at a time from the carrier tape 2when the successive one of the indexed pockets 4 arrives at the push-uparea 42. The head portion 82 has a hollow channel 89 which connects allof the three tip receivers 85, 86 and 87 for providing vacuum. An activerubber tip 90 is provided on the central tip receiver 88 for assistingin holding the small components. Two dummy plugs are also provided whichare installed on the other two tip receivers 85 and 86. If one of theother tip receivers is utilized, then the tip receiver in use willcontain the active rubber tip 90, and the tip receivers which are notutilized will receive the dummy plugs.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a PCB control board means 93 forelectrically and electronically connecting to and controlling thecarrier tape guiding assembly 32, the indexing assembly 33, theadjustable push-up tool assembly 34, and the flip-converting assembly35. The control board means 93 has a microprocessor (not shown).

The control circuit changes over between the flip-chip and non flip-chipoperation and is switch selectable. The flipping-converting assembly 35has a built-in miniature 6 volt vacuum pump 92, so no utilities otherthan electrical power are required. The operator interface consists of aready light 13, an index increment selector switch 15, a flip-chip/nonflip-chip control switch 11, and a manual index/tape feed button 17. Thetape advance button 17 is used for quickly advancing the carrier tape in2 mm increments. When the button is held down, the carrier tape willrapidly advance in successive 2 mm increments so that the carrier tapeappears to be moving continuously.

On pick and place assembly machines that require a communications link,e.g., ready/fault status, etc., this may be made available per customerrequirements.

The operation of the foregoing embodiment now will be described. Theelectronic feeder 12 can be switched to a non flip-chip mode or aflip-chip mode by the switch 11. When the electronic feeder 12 is in thenon flip-chip mode, the flipping-converting assembly 35 is deactivated,and the pick and place assembly machine is programmed to pick up thesmall components one at a time from the carrier tape 2 when thesuccessive one of the indexed pockets 2 arrives at the push-up area 42.When the electronic feeder 12 is in the flip-chip mode, theflipping-converting assembly 35 is activated and, the pick and placeassembly machine is programmed to pick up the small components one at atime from the flipping mechanism 39 of the flipping-converting assembly35.

For a non-flip operation, the feeder is powered up, the microprocessorwill check the lift pin down sensor and if the pin is not down, the liftmotor will run until it is down. Next the home sensor for the indexmotor will be sensed and if the index shaft is not at home the indexmotor will move it to home position. At this point, the green light willbe turned on. The processor will then go into a loop, polling the pushbuttons and the nozzle sensor. When the nozzle sensor senses that thevacuum nozzle of the surface mount assembly machine is approaching, itwill start a time delay; when the time delay expires, the lift pin motorwill start and it will stop when the lift sensor senses that the liftpin is up. When the nozzle sensor senses that the nozzle has departed,then the lift motor will start again and stop when it arrives at thedown position as detected by the second lift sensor. When the secondsensor senses that the pin is down, the index motor will be turned onand will be turned off at the end of one index increment.

For a flip-chip operation, the feeder is powered up, the microprocessorwill check the lift pin down sensor and if the pin is not down, the liftmotor will run until it is down. Next the home sensor for the indexmotor will be sensed and if the index shaft is not at home the indexmotor will move it to home position. At this point, the green light willbe turned on. When the sensor at the pick-up area is activatedindicating that the flip over arm is at the pick-up area, the vacuumpump will be activated and the push up pin motor will be activated. Itwill stop when the lift pin reaches to the top of the stroke. At thistime, the flip arm motor will be activated. As soon as the sensor at thepick-up area senses that the flip arm has cleared the sensor, the liftpin motor will be activated; it will stop when the lift pin reaches tothe bottom of the stroke as sensed by the down sensor. At this time, theindex motor will be activated. The flip arm motor will stop when thesensor at the delivery end senses that the arm has arrived at thatlocation. The vacuum will then be shut off. When the delivery endsensors senses the arrival of the pickup nozzle from the surface mountassembly machine nothing will happen until the sensor sees that theassembly machine nozzle has picked the die and is away from the pickpoint. At that time, the flip arm motor will be activated in the reversedirection. When the pick up point sensor senses the arrival of the fliparm the vacuum will be turned on and the lift pin motor will be turnedon starting another sequence. If, when the unit is powered up, thepickup point sensor does not sense the presence of the flip arm becauseit is at the delivery point, the flip arm motor will be activated toreturn the arm to the pickup point. When its arrival at the pickup pointis sensed, the lift pin sequence will start.

The present invention conforms to conventional forms of manufacture orany other conventional way known to one skilled in the art.

It will be appreciated that the interchangeable electronic feeder 12 maybe manufactured with only the flip-chip capability or non flip-chipcapability.

For example, the embodiments of the present invention hereinbeforedescribed do not include means for the removal of a cover carrier tapefrom the carrier tape normally used with carrier tape configurationsdefined by United States, National and International standards,including IEC 286-3, DIN IEC 288 part 3, EIA 481 and JIS-C-0806. Suchcover tape removal means are generally included on current version ofall conventional tape feeders, are well known in the art, and can bereadily incorporated in the present invention to permit use withconventional carrier tapes containing cover tapes, the removal of whichis essential to allow pick up of electronic components from theirrespective carrier tape cavities.

Defined in detail, the present invention is an apparatus for feeding acarrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexed pockets forcarrying small components, and used in conjunction with various pick andplace assembly machines for surface-mounting of the small componentsonto a printed circuit board (PCB), the apparatus comprising: (a) anelectronic feeder which can be interchangeably used in conjunction withthe various pick and place assembly machines; (b) a set of adapters forinterchangeably mounting the feeder to the various pick and placeassembly machines, each adapter having a first portion which iscustomized to accommodate one of the various pick and place assemblymachines, and a second portion which is common among all adapters forreceiving the feeder; (c) the first portion of the each adapter havingmeans for establishing electrical and electronic connection with the oneof the various pick and place assembly machines, and means for mountingand securing the each adapter to the one of the various pick and placeassembly machines; (d) the second portion of the each adapter havingmeans for establishing electrical and electronic connection with thefeeder, and means for mounting and securing the feeder to the eachadapter; (e) the each adapter further comprising internal means betweenthe first and second portions for establishing electrical and electronicconnection between the feeder and the one of the various pick and placeassembly machines; (f) the feeder having a self-contained low-profilehousing for housing a carrier tape guiding assembly, an indexingassembly, an adjustable push-up tool assembly, and a flip-convertingassembly; (g) the carrier tape guiding assembly having means foraccommodating different carrier tape widths, including a bottom supportplate for receiving the carrier tape thereon, a side rail integrallyformed with the bottom support plate at right angle, and a multiplicityof spaced apart spring-loaded wire guides attached to the bottom supportplate and remote from the side rail for biasing the carrier tapeinwardly towards the side rail but providing flexibility to accommodatedifferent carrier tape widths; (h) the indexing assembly having asprocket wheel with sprocket teeth adapted to engage the successivesprocket holes on the carrier tape for advancing the indexed pockets ofthe carrier tape to a push-up area, and means for driving the sprocketwheel; (i) the adjustable push-up tool assembly having a push-up pinmechanism for allowing transverse-position adjustment of a push-up pin,and means for actuating the push-up pin mechanism to the smallcomponents one at a time from the carrier tape when a successive one ofthe indexed pockets arrives at the push-up area; (j) the flip-convertingassembly having a flipping mechanism for allowing flipping of the smallcomponents (especially singulated bare die), and means for actuating theflipping mechanism to pick up and flip the small components one at atime from the push-up area; and (k) a control means electrically andelectronically connected to and controlling the carrier tape guidingassembly, the indexing assembly, the adjustable push-up tool assembly,and the flip-converting assembly, and means for switching between a nonflip-chip mode and a flip-chip mode; (l) whereby when the electronicfeeder is in the non flip-chip mode, the vacuum probe of the one of thepick and place assembly machines picks up the small components one at atime from the carrier tape when the successive one of the indexedpockets arrives at the push-up area or when the electronic feeder is inthe flip-chip mode, the vacuum probe of the one of the pick and placeassembly machines picks up the small components one at a time from theflipping mechanism of the flip-converting assembly.

Defined broadly, the present invention is an apparatus for feeding acarrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexed pockets forcarrying small components, and used in conjunction with a pick and placeassembly machine for surface-mounting of the small components onto aprinted circuit board (PCB), the apparatus comprising: (a) an electronicfeeder which can be interchangeably used in conjunction with the pickand place assembly machine; (b) at least one adapter for interchangeablymounting the feeder to the pick and place assembly machine, and having afirst portion which is customized to accommodate the pick and placeassembly machine, and a second portion for receiving the feeder; (c) thefirst portion of the at least one adapter having means for establishingelectrical and electronic connection with the pick and place assemblymachine, and means for mounting and securing the at least one adapter tothe pick and place assembly machine; (d) the second portion of the atleast one adapter having means for establishing electrical andelectronic connection with the feeder, and means for mounting andsecuring the feeder to the at least one adapter; (e) the at least oneadapter further comprising internal means between the first and secondportions for establishing electrical and electronic connection betweenthe feeder and the pick and place assembly machine; (f) the feederhaving a self-contained low-profile housing for housing a carrier tapeguiding assembly, an indexing assembly, an adjustable push-up toolassembly, and a flip-converting assembly; (g) the carrier tape guidingassembly having means for accommodating different carrier tape widths,including a bottom support plate for receiving the carrier tape thereon,a side rail integrally formed with the bottom support plate at rightangle, and a multiplicity of spaced apart spring-loaded wire guidesattached to the bottom support plate and remote from the side rail forbiasing the carrier tape inwardly towards the side rail but providingflexibility to accommodate different carrier tape widths; (h) theindexing assembly having a sprocket wheel with sprocket teeth adapted toengage the successive sprocket holes on the carrier tape for advancingthe indexed pockets of the carrier tape to a push-up area, and means fordriving the sprocket wheel; (i) the adjustable push-up tool assemblyhaving a push-up pin mechanism for allowing transverse-positionadjustment of a push-up pin, and means for actuating the push-up pinmechanism to the small components one at a time from the carrier tapewhen a successive one of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-uparea; (j) the flip-converting assembly having a flipping mechanism forallowing flipping of the small components, and means for actuating theflipping mechanism to pick up and flip the small components one at atime from the push-up area; and (k) a control means electrically andelectronically connected to and controlling the carrier tape guidingassembly, the indexing assembly, the adjustable push-up tool assembly,and the flip-converting assembly, and means for switching between a nonflip-chip mode and a flip-chip mode; (l) whereby when the electronicfeeder is in the non flip-chip mode, the pick and place assembly machinepicks up the small components one at a time from directly the carriertape when the successive one of the indexed pockets arrives at thepush-up area or when the electronic feeder is in the flip-chip mode, thepick and place assembly machine picks up the small components one at atime from the flipping mechanism of the flip-converting assembly.

Defined more broadly, the present invention is an electronic feeder forfeeding a carrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexedpockets for carrying small components, the electronic feeder comprising:(a) a self-contained low-profile housing for housing a carrier tapeguiding assembly, an indexing assembly, an adjustable push-up toolassembly, and a flip-converting assembly; (b) the carrier tape guidingassembly having means for accommodating different carrier tape widths,including a bottom support plate for receiving the carrier tape thereon,a side rail integrally formed with the bottom support plate at rightangle, and a multiplicity of spaced apart spring-loaded wire guidesattached to the bottom support plate and remote from the side rail forbiasing the carrier tape inwardly towards the side rail but providingflexibility to accommodate different carrier tape widths; (c) theindexing assembly having a sprocket wheel with sprocket teeth adapted toengage the successive sprocket holes on the carrier tape for advancingthe indexed pockets of the carrier tape to a push-up area, and means fordriving the sprocket wheel; (d) the adjustable push-up tool assemblyhaving a push-up pin mechanism for allowing transverse-positionadjustment of a push-up pin, and means for actuating the push-up pinmechanism to the small components one at a time from the carrier tapewhen a successive one of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-uparea; (e) the flip-converting assembly having a flipping mechanism forallowing flipping of the small components, and means for actuating theflipping mechanism to pick up and flip the small components one at atime from the push-up area; and (f) a control means electrically andelectronically connected to and controlling the carrier tape guidingassembly, the indexing assembly, the adjustable push-up tool assembly,and the flip-converting assembly, and means for switching between nonflip-chip mode and a flip-chip mode; (g) whereby when the electronicfeeder is in the non flip-chip mode, the small components are picked upone at a time directly from the carrier tape when the successive one ofthe indexed pockets arrives at the push-up area or when the electronicfeeder is in the flip-chip mode, the small components are picked up oneat a time from the flipping mechanism of the flip-converting assembly.

Defined even more broadly, the present invention is an electronic feederfor feeding a carrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexedpockets for carrying small components, the electronic feeder comprising:(a) a low-profile housing for housing a carrier tape guiding assembly,an indexing assembly, a push-up tool assembly, and a flip-convertingassembly; (b) the carrier tape guiding assembly having means foraccommodating different carrier tape widths, including a bottom supportplate, a side rail, and at least two spaced apart spring-loaded wireguides for biasing the carrier tape inwardly towards the side rail butproviding flexibility to accommodate different carrier tape widths; (c)the indexing assembly having means adapted to engage the successivesprocket holes on the carrier tape for advancing the indexed pockets ofthe carrier tape to a push-up area; (d) the push-up tool assembly havinga push-up pin mechanism for allowing transverse-position adjustment of apush-up pin, and means for actuating the push-up pin mechanism to thesmall components one at a time from the carrier tape when a successiveone of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-up area; (e) theflip-converting assembly having a flipping mechanism for allowingflipping of the small components, and means for actuating the flippingmechanism to pick up and flip the small components one at a time fromthe push-up area; and (f) a control means electrically andelectronically connected to and controlling the carrier tape guidingassembly, the indexing assembly, the push-up tool assembly, and theflip-converting assembly; (g) whereby the small components are picked upone at a time directly from the carrier tape when the successive one ofthe indexed pockets arrives at the push-up area or the small componentsare picked up one at a time from the flipping mechanism of theflip-converting assembly.

Defined further broadly, the present invention is a feeder for feeding acarrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexed pockets forcarrying small components, the feeder comprising: (a) a housing forhousing a carrier tape guiding means, an indexing means, a push-upmeans, and a flip-converting means; (b) the carrier tape guiding meansfor accommodating different carrier tape widths; (c) the indexing meansfor engaging the successive sprocket holes on the carrier tape andadvancing the indexed pockets of the carrier tape to a push-up area; (d)the push-up means for allowing transverse-position adjustment of apush-up pin and actuating the push-up pin to the small components one ata time from the carrier tape when a successive one of the indexedpockets arrives at the push-up area; (e) the flip-converting means forallowing flipping of the small components one at a time from the push-uparea; and (f) a control means electrically and electronically connectedto and controlling the carrier tape guiding means, the indexing means,the push-up means, and the flip-converting means; (g) whereby the smallcomponents are picked up one at a time directly from the carrier tapewhen the successive one of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-uparea or the small components are picked up one at a time from theflip-converting means.

Defined further more broadly, the present invention is a feeder forfeeding a carrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexedpockets for carrying small components, the feeder comprising: (a) ahousing; (b) means for accommodating different carrier tape widths; (c)means for engaging the successive sprocket holes on the carrier tape andadvancing the indexed pockets of the carrier tape to a push-up area; (d)means for allowing transverse-position adjustment of a push-up pin topush-up the small components one at a time from the carrier tape when asuccessive one of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-up area; (e)means for allowing flipping of the small components one at a time fromthe push-up area; and (f) means electrically and electronicallyconnected to and controlling the means for accommodating, the means forengaging and advancing, the means for allowing transverse-positionadjustment, and the means for allowing flipping; (g) whereby the smallcomponents are picked up one at a time from the carrier tape when thesuccessive one of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-up area or thesmall components are picked up one at a time from the means for allowingflipping.

Alternatively defined in detail, the present invention is an apparatusfor feeding a carrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexedpockets for carrying small components, and used in conjunction withvarious pick and place assembly machines for surface-mounting of thesmall components onto a printed circuit board (PCB), the apparatuscomprising: (a) an electronic feeder which can be interchangeably usedin conjunction with the various pick and place assembly machines; (b) aset of adapters for interchangeably mounting the feeder to the variouspick and place assembly machines, each adapter having a first portionwhich is customized to accommodate one of the various pick and placeassembly machines, and a second portion which is common among alladapters for receiving the feeder; (c) the first portion of the eachadapter having means for establishing electrical and electronicconnection with the one of the various pick and place assembly machines,and means for mounting and securing the each adapter to the one of thevarious pick and place assembly machines; (d) the second portion of theeach adapter having means for establishing electrical and electronicconnection with the feeder, and means for mounting and securing thefeeder to the each adapter; (e) the each adapter further comprisinginternal means between the first and second portions for establishingelectrical and electronic connection between the feeder and the one ofthe various pick and place assembly machines; (f) the feeder having aself-contained low-profile housing for housing a carrier tape guidingassembly, an indexing assembly, and an adjustable push-up tool assembly;(g) the carrier tape guiding assembly having means for accommodatingdifferent carrier tape widths, including a bottom support plate forreceiving the carrier tape thereon, a side rail integrally formed withthe bottom support plate at right angle, and a multiplicity of spacedapart spring-loaded wire guides attached to the bottom support plate andremote from the side rail for biasing the carrier tape inwardly towardsthe side rail but providing flexibility to accommodate different carriertape widths; (h) the indexing assembly having a sprocket wheel withsprocket teeth adapted to engage the successive sprocket holes on thecarrier tape for advancing the indexed pockets of the carrier tape to apush-up area, and means for driving the sprocket wheel; (i) theadjustable push-up tool assembly having a push-up pin mechanism forallowing transverse-position adjustment of a push-up pin, and means foractuating the push-up pin mechanism to push-up the small components oneat a time from the carrier tape when a successive one of the indexedpockets arrives at the push-up area; and (j) a control meanselectrically and electronically connected to and controlling the carriertape guiding assembly, the indexing assembly, and the adjustable push-uptool assembly; (k) whereby the vacuum nozzle of the one of the pick andplace assembly machines picks up the small components one at a time fromthe carrier tape when the successive one of the indexed pockets arrivesat the push-up area.

Alternatively defined broadly, the present invention is an apparatus forfeeding a carrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexedpockets for carrying small components, and used in conjunction with apick and place assembly machine for surface-mounting of the smallcomponents onto a printed circuit board (PCB), the apparatus comprising:(a) an electronic feeder which can be interchangeably used inconjunction with the pick and place assembly machine; (b) at least oneadapter for interchangeably mounting the feeder to the pick and placeassembly machine, and having a first portion which is customized toaccommodate the pick and place assembly machine, and a second portionfor receiving the feeder; (c) the first portion of the at least oneadapter having means for establishing electrical and electronicconnection with the pick and place assembly machine, and means formounting and securing the at least one adapter to the pick and placeassembly machine; (d) the second portion of the at least one adapterhaving means for establishing electrical and electronic connection withthe feeder, and means for mounting and securing the feeder to the atleast one adapter; (e) the at least one adapter further comprisinginternal means between the first and second portions for establishingelectrical and electronic connection between the feeder and the pick andplace assembly machine; (f) the feeder having a self-containedlow-profile housing for housing a carrier tape guiding assembly, anindexing assembly, and an adjustable push-up tool assembly; (g) thecarrier tape guiding assembly having means for accommodating differentcarrier tape widths, including a bottom support plate for receiving thecarrier tape thereon, a side rail integrally formed with the bottomsupport plate at right angle, and a multiplicity of spaced apartspring-loaded wire guides attached to the bottom support plate andremote from the side rail for biasing the carrier tape inwardly towardsthe side rail but providing flexibility to accommodate different carriertape widths; (h) the indexing assembly having a sprocket wheel withsprocket teeth adapted to engage the successive sprocket holes on thecarrier tape for advancing the indexed pockets of the carrier tape to apush-up area, and means for driving the sprocket wheel; (i) theadjustable push-up tool assembly having a push-up pin mechanism forallowing transverse-position adjustment of a push-up pin, and means foractuating the push-up pin mechanism to push-up the small components oneat a time from the carrier tape when a successive one of the indexedpockets arrives at the push-up area; and (j) a control meanselectrically and electronically connected to and controlling the carriertape guiding assembly, the indexing assembly, and the adjustable push-uptool assembly; (k) whereby the pick and place assembly machine picks upthe small components one at a time directly from the carrier tape whenthe successive one of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-up area.

Alternatively defined more broadly, the present invention is anelectronic feeder for feeding a carrier tape with successive sprocketholes and indexed pockets for carrying small components, the electronicfeeder comprising: (a) a self-contained low-profile housing for housinga carrier tape guiding assembly, an indexing assembly, and an adjustablepush-up tool assembly; (b) the carrier tape guiding assembly havingmeans for accommodating different carrier tape widths, including abottom support plate for receiving the carrier tape thereon, a side railintegrally formed with the bottom support plate at right angle, and amultiplicity of spaced apart spring-loaded wire guides attached to thebottom support plate and remote from the side rail for biasing thecarrier tape inwardly towards the side rail but providing flexibility toaccommodate different carrier tape widths; (c) the indexing assemblyhaving a sprocket wheel with sprocket teeth adapted to engage thesuccessive sprocket holes on the carrier tape for advancing the indexedpockets of the carrier tape to a push-up area, and means for driving thesprocket wheel; (d) the adjustable push-up tool assembly having apush-up pin mechanism for allowing transverse-position adjustment of apush-up pin, and means for actuating the push-up pin mechanism topush-up the small components one at a time from the carrier tape when asuccessive one of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-up area; and(e) a control means electrically and electronically connected to andcontrolling the carrier tape guiding assembly, the indexing assembly,and the adjustable push-up tool assembly; (f) whereby the smallcomponents are picked up one at a time directly from the carrier tapewhen the successive one of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-uparea.

Alternatively defined even more broadly, the present invention is anelectronic feeder for feeding a carrier tape with successive sprocketholes and indexed pockets for carrying small components, the electronicfeeder comprising: (a) a low-profile housing for housing a carrier tapeguiding assembly, an indexing assembly, and a push-up tool assembly; (b)the carrier tape guiding assembly having means for accommodatingdifferent carrier tape widths, including a bottom support plate, a siderail, and at least two spaced apart spring-loaded wire guides forbiasing the carrier tape inwardly towards the side rail but providingflexibility to accommodate different carrier tape widths; (c) theindexing assembly having means adapted to engage the successive sprocketholes on the carrier tape for advancing the indexed pockets of thecarrier tape to a push-up area; (d) the push-up tool assembly having apush-up pin mechanism for allowing transverse-position adjustment of apush-up pin, and means for actuating the push-up pin mechanism topush-up the small components one at a time from the carrier tape when asuccessive one of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-up area; and(e) a control means electrically and electronically connected to andcontrolling the carrier tape guiding assembly, the indexing assembly,and the push-up tool assembly; (f) whereby the small components arepicked up one at a time directly from the carrier tape when thesuccessive one of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-up area.

Alternatively defined further broadly, the present invention is a feederfor feeding a carrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexedpockets for carrying small components, the feeder comprising: (a) ahousing for housing a carrier tape guiding means, an indexing means, anda push-up means; (b) the carrier tape guiding means for accommodatingdifferent carrier tape widths; (c) the indexing means for engaging thesuccessive sprocket holes on the carrier tape and advancing the indexedpockets of the carrier tape to a push-up area; (d) the push-up means forallowing transverse-position adjustment of a push-up pin and actuatingthe push-up pin to push-up the small components one at a time from thecarrier tape when a successive one of the indexed pockets arrives at thepush-up area; and (e) a control means electrically and electronicallyconnected to and controlling the carrier tape guiding means, theindexing means, and the push-up means; (f) whereby the small componentsare picked up one at a time from the carrier tape when the successiveone of the indexed pockets arrives at the push-up area.

Alternatively defined further more broadly, the present invention is afeeder for feeding a carrier tape with successive sprocket holes andindexed pockets for carrying small components, the feeder comprising:(a) a housing; (b) means for accommodating different carrier tapewidths; (c) means for engaging the successive sprocket holes on thecarrier tape and advancing the indexed pockets of the carrier tape to apush-up area; (d) means for allowing transverse-position adjustment of apush-up pin to push-up the small components one at a time from thecarrier tape when a successive one of the indexed pockets arrives at thepush-up area; and (e) means electrically and electronically connected toand controlling the means for accommodating, the means for engaging andadvancing, and the means for allowing transverse-position adjustment;(f) whereby the small components are picked up one at a time from thecarrier tape when the successive one of the indexed pockets arrives atthe push-up area.

Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to anyparticular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment disclosedherein, or any specific use, since the same may be modified in variousparticulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which theapparatus shown is intended only for illustration and for disclosure ofan operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms ormodifications in which the present invention might be embodied oroperated.

The present invention has been described in considerable detail in orderto comply with the patent laws by providing full public disclosure of atleast one of its forms. However, such detailed description is notintended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of thepresent invention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for feeding a carrier tape withsuccessive sprocket holes and indexed pockets for carrying smallcomponents, and used in conjunction with various pick and place assemblymachines for surface-mounting of the small components onto a printedcircuit board (PCB), the apparatus comprising:a. an electronic feederwhich can be interchangeably used in conjunction with said various pickand place assembly machines; b. a set of adapters for interchangeablymounting said feeder to said various pick and place assembly machines,each adapter having a first portion which is customized to accommodateone of said various pick and place assembly machines, and a secondportion which is common among all adapters for receiving said feeder; c.said first portion of said each adapter having means for establishingelectrical and electronic connection with said one of said various pickand place assembly machines, and means for mounting and securing saideach adapter to said one of said various pick and place assemblymachines; d. said second portion of said each adapter having means forestablishing electrical and electronic connection with said feeder, andmeans for mounting and securing said feeder to said each adapter; e.said each adapter further comprising internal means between said firstand second portions for establishing electrical and electronicconnection between said feeder and said one of said various pick andplace assembly machines; f. said feeder having a self-containedlow-profile housing for housing a carrier tape guiding assembly, anindexing assembly, an adjustable push-up tool assembly, and aflip-converting assembly; g. said carrier tape guiding assembly havingmeans for accommodating different carrier tape widths, including abottom support plate for receiving said carrier tape thereon, a siderail integrally formed with the bottom support plate at right angle, anda multiplicity of spaced apart spring-loaded wire guides attached to thebottom support plate and remote from the side rail for biasing saidcarrier tape inwardly towards the side rail but providing flexibility toaccommodate different carrier tape widths; h. said indexing assemblyhaving a sprocket wheel with sprocket teeth adapted to engage saidsuccessive sprocket holes on said carrier tape for advancing saidindexed pockets of said carrier tape to a push-up area, and means fordriving the sprocket wheel; i. said adjustable push-up tool assemblyhaving a push-up pin mechanism for allowing transverse-positionadjustment of a push-up pin, and means for actuating said push-up pinmechanism to push-up said small components one at a time from saidcarrier tape when a successive one of said indexed pockets arrives atsaid push-up area; j. said flip-converting assembly having a flippingmechanism for allowing flipping of said small components, and means foractuating said flipping mechanism to pick up and flip said smallcomponents one at a time from said push-up area; and k. a control meanselectrically and electronically connected to and controlling saidcarrier tape guiding assembly, said indexing assembly, said adjustablepush-up tool assembly, and said flip-converting assembly, and means forswitching between a non flip-chip mode and a flip-chip mode; l. wherebywhen said electronic feeder is in the non flip-chip mode, the vacuumprobe of said one of said pick and place assembly machines picks up saidsmall components one at a time from said carrier tape when thesuccessive one of said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area orwhen said electronic feeder is in the flip-chip mode, the vacuum probeof said one of said pick and place assembly machines picks up said smallcomponents one at a time from said flipping mechanism of saidflip-converting assembly.
 2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1further accommodating use of AC adapter modules for providing analternative source of electrical power to said electronic feeder.
 3. Theapparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for switchingbetween said non flip-chip mode and said flip-chip mode includes aswitch for switching said electronic feeder.
 4. The apparatus inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said adjustable push-up tool assemblyfurther comprises a leaf spring member for flexing in a up and downdirection, a yoke member mounted underneath the leaf spring member, apositioning V-shaped groove member mounted above the leaf spring memberand aligned with the yoke member for providing fixed orientation withoutrotation, and a spring clip, the positioning V-shaped groove memberhaving a 8 mm location, a 12 mm location and a 16 mm location forreceiving said push-up pin in a respective one of the three locations,where the spring clip retains the push-up pin therein, the yoke memberactuated by a lever member which in turn moves the leaf spring in the upand down direction which in turns moves the positioning V-shaped groovemember which in turn moves the push-up pin, thereby pushing said smallcomponents one at a time from said carrier tape when the successive oneof said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area.
 5. The apparatusin accordance with claim 1 wherein said flipping mechanism furthercomprises a flipping arm with a head portion, the head portion having atop side with two opposite tip receivers and an opposite bottom sidewith a central tip receiver, where each tip receiver corresponds to therespective one of said three locations of said positioning V-shapedgroove member of said adjustable push-up tool assembly, the flipping armswinging to said push-up area, so that a respective one of the three tipreceivers picks up said small components one at a time from said carriertape when the successive one of said indexed pockets arrives at saidpush-up area.
 6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 furthercomprising an active tip and two dummy plugs, where the active tip isinstalled on the respective one of said three tip receivers of said headportion of said flipping mechanism and the dummy plugs are installed onthe other two of said three tip receivers of said head portion of saidflipping mechanism of said flip-converting assembly.
 7. The apparatus inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said low profile housing furthercomprises means for retaining said carrier tape.
 8. An apparatus forfeeding a carrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexedpockets for carrying small components, and used in conjunction with apick and place assembly machine for surface-mounting of the smallcomponents onto a printed circuit board (PCB), the apparatuscomprising:a. an electronic feeder which can be interchangeably used inconjunction with said pick and place assembly machine; b. at least oneadapter for interchangeably mounting said feeder to said pick and placeassembly machine, and having a first portion which is customized toaccommodate said pick and place assembly machine, and a second portionfor receiving said feeder; c. said first portion of said at least oneadapter having means for establishing electrical and electronicconnection with said pick and place assembly machine, and means formounting and securing said at least one adapter to said pick and placeassembly machine; d. said second portion of said at least one adapterhaving means for establishing electrical and electronic connection withsaid feeder, and means for mounting and securing said feeder to said atleast one adapter; e. said at least one adapter further comprisinginternal means between said first and second portions for establishingelectrical and electronic connection between said feeder and said pickand place assembly machine; f. said feeder having a self-containedlow-profile housing for housing a carrier tape guiding assembly, anindexing assembly, an adjustable push-up tool assembly, and aflip-converting assembly; g. said carrier tape guiding assembly havingmeans for accommodating different carrier tape widths, including abottom support plate for receiving said carrier tape thereon, a siderail integrally formed with the bottom support plate at right angle, anda multiplicity of spaced apart spring-loaded wire guides attached to thebottom support plate and remote from the side rail for biasing saidcarrier tape inwardly towards the side rail but providing flexibility toaccommodate different carrier tape widths; h. said indexing assemblyhaving a sprocket wheel with sprocket teeth adapted to engage saidsuccessive sprocket holes on said carrier tape for advancing saidindexed pockets of said carrier tape to a push-up area, and means fordriving the sprocket wheel; i. said adjustable push-up tool assemblyhaving a push-up pin mechanism for allowing transverse-positionadjustment of a push-up pin, and means for actuating said push-up pinmechanism to push-up said small components one at a time from saidcarrier tape when a successive one of said indexed pockets arrives atsaid push-up area; j. said flip-converting assembly having a flippingmechanism for allowing flipping of said small components, and means foractuating said flipping mechanism to pick up and flip said smallcomponents one at a time from said push-up area; and k. a control meanselectrically and electronically connected to and controlling saidcarrier tape guiding assembly, said indexing assembly, said adjustablepush-up tool assembly, and said flip-converting assembly, and means forswitching between a non flip-chip mode and a flip-chip mode; l. wherebywhen said electronic feeder is in the non flip-chip mode, said pick andplace assembly machine picks up said small components one at a timedirectly from said carrier tape when the successive one of said indexedpockets arrives at said push-up area or when said electronic feeder isin the flip-chip mode, said pick and place assembly machine picks upsaid small components one at a time from said flipping mechanism of saidflip-converting assembly.
 9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8further accommodating use of AC adapter modules for providing analternative source of electrical power to said electronic feeder. 10.The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means forswitching between said non flip-chip mode and said flip-chip modeincludes a switch for switching said electronic feeder.
 11. Theapparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said adjustable push-uptool assembly further comprises a leaf spring member for flexing in a upand down direction, a yoke member mounted underneath the leaf springmember, a positioning V-shaped groove member mounted above the leafspring member and aligned with the yoke member for providing fixedorientation without rotation, and a spring clip, the positioningV-shaped groove member having a 8 mm location, a 12 mm location and a 16mm location for receiving said push-up pin in a respective one of thethree locations, where the spring clip retains the push-up pin therein,the yoke member actuated by a lever member which in turn moves the leafspring in the up and down direction which in turns moves the positioningV-shaped groove member which in turn moves the push-up pin, therebypushing said small components one at a time from said carrier tape whenthe successive one of said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area.12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said flippingmechanism further comprises a flipping arm with a head portion, the headportion having a top side with two opposite tip receivers and anopposite bottom side with a central tip receiver, where each tipreceiver corresponds to the respective one of said three locations ofsaid positioning V-shaped groove member of said adjustable push-up toolassembly, the flipping arm swinging to said push-up area, so that arespective one of the three tip receivers picks up said small componentsone at a time from said carrier tape when the successive one of saidindexed pockets arrives at said push-up area.
 13. The apparatus inaccordance with claim 12 further comprising an active tip and two dummyplugs, where the active tip is installed on the respective one of saidthree tip receivers of said head portion of said flipping mechanism andthe dummy plugs are installed on the other two of said three tipreceivers of said head portion of said flipping mechanism of saidflip-converting assembly.
 14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8wherein said low profile housing further comprises means for retainingsaid carrier tape.
 15. An electronic feeder for feeding a carrier tapewith successive sprocket holes and indexed pockets for carrying smallcomponents, the electronic feeder comprising:a. a self-containedlow-profile housing for housing a carrier tape guiding assembly, anindexing assembly, an adjustable push-up tool assembly, and aflip-converting assembly; b. said carrier tape guiding assembly havingmeans for accommodating different carrier tape widths, including abottom support plate for receiving said carrier tape thereon, a siderail integrally formed with the bottom support plate at right angle, anda multiplicity of spaced apart spring-loaded wire guides attached to thebottom support plate and remote from the side rail for biasing saidcarrier tape inwardly towards the side rail but providing flexibility toaccommodate different carrier tape widths; c. said indexing assemblyhaving a sprocket wheel with sprocket teeth adapted to engage saidsuccessive sprocket holes on said carrier tape for advancing saidindexed pockets of said carrier tape to a push-up area, and means fordriving the sprocket wheel; d. said adjustable push-up tool assemblyhaving a push-up pin mechanism for allowing transverse-positionadjustment of a push-up pin, and means for actuating said push-up pinmechanism to push-up said small components one at a time from saidcarrier tape when a successive one of said indexed pockets arrives atsaid push-up area; e. said flip-converting assembly having a flippingmechanism for allowing flipping of said small components, and means foractuating said flipping mechanism to pick up and flip said smallcomponents one at a time from said push-up area; and f. a control meanselectrically and electronically connected to and controlling saidcarrier tape guiding assembly, said indexing assembly, said adjustablepush-up tool assembly, and said flip-converting assembly, and means forswitching between a non flip-chip mode and a flip-chip mode; g. wherebywhen said electronic feeder is in the non flip-chip mode, said smallcomponents are picked up one at a time directly from said carrier tapewhen the successive one of said indexed pockets arrives at said push-uparea or when said electronic feeder is in the flip-chip mode, said smallcomponents are picked up one at a time from said flipping mechanism ofsaid flip-converting assembly.
 16. The electronic feeder in accordancewith claim 15 further comprising a set of adapters for interchangeablymounting said low-profile housing to various pick and place assemblymachines, each adapter having a first portion which is customized toaccommodate one of the various pick and place assembly machines, and asecond portion which is common among all adapters for receiving saidlow-profile housing.
 17. The electronic feeder in accordance with claim16 wherein said first portion of said each adapter having means forestablishing electrical and electronic connection with said one of saidvarious pick and place assembly machines, and means for mounting andsecuring said each adapter to said one of said various pick and placeassembly machines.
 18. The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 16wherein said second portion of said each adapter having means forestablishing electrical and electronic connection with said low-profilehousing, and means for mounting and securing said low-profile housing tosaid each adapter.
 19. The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 16wherein said each adapter further comprises internal means between saidfirst and second portions for establishing electrical and electronicconnection between said low-profile housing and said one of said variouspick and place assembly machines.
 20. The electronic feeder inaccordance with claim 15 further accommodating use of AC adapter modulesfor providing alternative source of electrical power to said low-profilehousing.
 21. The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 15 whereinsaid means for switching between said non flip-chip mode and saidflip-chip mode includes a switch for switching said low-profile housing.22. The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 15 wherein saidadjustable push-up tool assembly further comprises a leaf spring memberfor flexing in a up and down direction, a yoke member mounted underneaththe leaf spring member, a positioning V-shaped groove member mountedabove the leaf spring member and aligned with the yoke member forproviding fixed orientation without rotation, and a spring clip, thepositioning V-shaped groove member having a 8 mm location, a 12 mmlocation and a 16 mm location for receiving said push-up pin in arespective one of the three locations, where the spring clip retains thepush-up pin therein, the yoke member actuated by a lever member which inturn moves the leaf spring in the up and down direction which in turnsmoves the positioning V-shaped groove member which in turn moves thepush-up pin, thereby push-up said small components one at a time fromsaid carrier tape when the successive one of said indexed pocketsarrives at said push-up area.
 23. The electronic feeder in accordancewith claim 15 wherein said flipping mechanism further comprises aflipping arm with a head portion, the head portion having a top sidewith two opposite tip receivers and an opposite bottom side with acentral tip receiver, where each tip receiver corresponds to therespective one of said three locations of said positioning V-shapedgroove member of said adjustable push-up tool assembly, the flipping armswinging to said push-up area, so that a respective one of the three tipreceivers picks up said small components one at a time from said carriertape when the successive one of said indexed pockets arrives at saidpush-up area.
 24. The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 23further comprising an active tip and two dummy plugs, where the activetip is installed on the respective one of said three tip receivers ofsaid head portion of said flipping mechanism and the dummy plugs areinstalled on the other two of said three tip receivers of said headportion of said flipping mechanism of said flip-converting assembly. 25.The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 15 wherein saidlow-profile housing further comprises means for retaining said carriertape.
 26. An electronic feeder for feeding a carrier tape withsuccessive sprocket holes and indexed pockets for carrying smallcomponents, the electronic feeder comprising:a. a low-profile housingfor housing a carrier tape guiding assembly, an indexing assembly, apush-up tool assembly, and a flip-converting assembly; b. said carriertape guiding assembly having means for accommodating different carriertape widths, including a bottom support plate, a side rail, and at leasttwo spaced apart spring-loaded wire guides for biasing said carrier tapeinwardly towards the side rail but providing flexibility to accommodatedifferent carrier tape widths; c. said indexing assembly having meansadapted to engage said successive sprocket holes on said carrier tapefor advancing said indexed pockets of said carrier tape to a push-uparea; d. said push-up tool assembly having a push-up pin mechanism forallowing transverse-position adjustment of a push-up pin, and means foractuating the push-up pin mechanism to push-up said small components oneat a time from said carrier tape when a successive one of said indexedpockets arrives at said push-up area; e. said flip-converting assemblyhaving a flipping mechanism for allowing flipping of said smallcomponents, and means for actuating said flipping mechanism to pick upand flip said small components one at a time from said push-up area; andf. a control means electrically and electronically connected to andcontrolling said carrier tape guiding assembly, said indexing assembly,said push-up tool assembly, and said flip-converting assembly; g.whereby said small components are picked up one at a time directly fromsaid carrier tape when the successive one of said indexed pocketsarrives at said push-up area or said small components are picked up oneat a time from said flipping mechanism of said flip-converting assembly.27. The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 26 further comprisinga set of adapters for interchangeably mounting said low-profile housingto various pick and place assembly machines, each adapter having a firstportion which is customized to accommodate one of the various pick andplace assembly machines, and a second portion which is common among alladapters for receiving said low-profile housing.
 28. The electronicfeeder in accordance with claim 27 wherein said first portion of saideach adapter having means for establishing electrical and electronicconnection with said one of said various pick and place assemblymachines, and means for mounting and securing said each adapter to saidone of said various pick and place assembly machines.
 29. The electronicfeeder in accordance with claim 22 wherein said second portion of saideach adapter having means for establishing electrical and electronicconnection with said low-profile housing, and means for mounting andsecuring said low-profile housing to said each adapter.
 30. Theelectronic feeder in accordance with claim 27 wherein said each adapterfurther comprises internal means between said first and second portionsfor establishing electrical and electronic connection between saidlow-profile housing and said one of said various pick and place assemblymachines.
 31. The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 26 whereinsaid push-up tool assembly further comprises a leaf spring member forflexing in a up and down direction, a yoke member mounted underneath theleaf spring member, a positioning V-shaped groove member mounted abovethe leaf spring member and aligned with the yoke member for providingfixed orientation without rotation, and a spring clip, the positioningV-shaped groove member having a 8 mm location, a 12 mm location and a 16mm location for receiving said push-up pin in a respective one of thethree locations, where the spring clip retains the push-up pin therein,the yoke member actuated by a lever member which in turn moves the leafspring in the up and down direction which in turns moves the positioningV-shaped groove member which in turn moves the push-up pin, therebypushing said small components one at a time from said carrier tape whenthe successive one of said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area.32. The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 26 wherein saidflipping mechanism further comprises a flipping arm with a head portion,the head portion having a top side with two opposite tip receivers andan opposite bottom side with a central tip receiver, where each tipreceiver corresponds to the respective one of said three locations ofsaid positioning V-shaped groove member of said adjustable push-up toolassembly, the flipping arm swinging to said push-up area, so that arespective one of the three tip receivers picks up said small componentsone at a time from said carrier tape when the successive one of saidindexed pockets arrives at said push-up area.
 33. The electronic feederin accordance with claim 32 further comprising an active tip and twodummy plugs, where the active tip is installed on the respective one ofsaid three tip receivers of said head portion of said flipping mechanismand the dummy plugs are installed on the other two of said three tipreceivers of said head portion of said flipping mechanism of saidflip-converting assembly.
 34. The electronic feeder in accordance withclaim 26 wherein said low-profile housing further comprises means forretaining said carrier tape.
 35. A feeder for feeding a carrier tapewith successive sprocket holes and indexed pockets for carrying smallcomponents, the feeder comprising:a. a housing for housing a carriertape guiding means, an indexing means, a push-up means, and aflip-converting means; b. said carrier tape guiding means foraccommodating different carrier tape widths; c. said indexing means forengaging said successive sprocket holes on said carrier tape andadvancing said indexed pockets of said carrier tape to a push-up area;d. said push-up means for allowing transverse-position adjustment of apush-up pin and actuating the push-up pin to push-up said smallcomponents one at a time from said carrier tape when a successive one ofsaid indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area; e. saidflip-converting means for allowing flipping of said small components oneat a time from said push-up area; and f. a control means electricallyand electronically connected to and controlling said carrier tapeguiding means, said indexing means, said push-up means, and saidflip-converting means; g. whereby said small components are picked upone at a time directly from said carrier tape when the successive one ofsaid indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area or said smallcomponents are picked up one at a time from said flip-converting means.36. The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 35 further comprisinga set of adapters for interchangeably mounting said housing to variouspick and place assembly machines.
 37. A feeder for feeding a carriertape with successive sprocket holes and indexed pockets for carryingsmall components, the feeder comprising:a. a housing; b. means foraccommodating different carrier tape widths; c. means for engaging saidsuccessive sprocket holes on said carrier tape and advancing saidindexed pockets of said carrier tape to a push-up area; d. means forallowing transverse-position adjustment of a push-up pin to push-up saidsmall components one at a time from said carrier tape when a successiveone of said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area; e. means forallowing flipping of said small components one at a time from saidpush-up area; and f. means electrically and electronically connected toand controlling said means for accommodating, said means for engagingand advancing, said means for allowing transverse-position adjustment,and means for allowing flipping; g. whereby said small components arepicked up one at a time directly from said carrier tape when thesuccessive one of said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area orsaid small components are picked up one at a time from said means forallowing flipping.
 38. The feeder in accordance with claim 37 furthercomprising a set of adapters for interchangeably mounting said housingto various pick and place assembly machines.
 39. An apparatus forfeeding a carrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexedpockets for carrying small components, and used in conjunction withvarious pick and place assembly machines for surface-mounting of thesmall components onto a printed circuit board (PCB), the apparatuscomprising:a. an electronic feeder which can be interchangeably used inconjunction with said various pick and place assembly machines; b. a setof adapters for interchangeably mounting said feeder to said variouspick and place assembly machines, each adapter having a first portionwhich is customized to accommodate one of said various pick and placeassembly machines, and a second portion which is common among alladapters for receiving said feeder; c. said first portion of said eachadapter having means for establishing electrical and electronicconnection with said one of said various pick and place assemblymachines, and means for mounting and securing said each adapter to saidone of said various pick and place assembly machines; d. said secondportion of said each adapter having means for establishing electricaland electronic connection with said feeder, and means for mounting andsecuring said feeder to said each adapter; e. said each adapter furthercomprising internal means between said first and second portions forestablishing electrical and electronic connection between said feederand said one of said various pick and place assembly machines; f. saidfeeder having a self-contained low-profile housing for housing a carriertape guiding assembly, an indexing assembly, and an adjustable push-uptool assembly; g. said carrier tape guiding assembly having means foraccommodating different carrier tape widths, including a bottom supportplate for receiving said carrier tape thereon, a side rail integrallyformed with the bottom support plate at right angle, and a multiplicityof spaced apart spring-loaded wire guides attached to the bottom supportplate and remote from the side rail for biasing said carrier tapeinwardly towards the side rail but providing flexibility to accommodatedifferent carrier tape widths; h. said indexing assembly having asprocket wheel with sprocket teeth adapted to engage said successivesprocket holes on said carrier tape for advancing said indexed pocketsof said carrier tape to a push-up area, and means for driving thesprocket wheel; i. said adjustable push-up tool assembly having apush-up pin mechanism for allowing transverse-position adjustment of apush-up pin, and means for actuating said push-up pin mechanism topush-up said small components one at a time from said carrier tape whena successive one of said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area;and j. a control means electrically and electronically connected to andcontrolling said carrier tape guiding assembly, said indexing assembly,and said adjustable push-up tool assembly; k. whereby the vacuum nozzleof said one of said pick and place assembly machines picks up said smallcomponents one at a time from said carrier tape when the successive oneof said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area.
 40. The apparatusin accordance with claim 39 wherein said electronic feeder furthercomprises a flip-converting assembly having a flipping mechanism forallowing flipping of said small components, and means for actuating theflipping mechanism to pick up and flip said small components one at atime from said push-up area.
 41. An apparatus for feeding a carrier tapewith successive sprocket holes and indexed pockets for carrying smallcomponents, and used in conjunction with a pick and place machine forsurface-mounting of the small components onto a printed circuit board(PCB), the apparatus comprising:a. an electronic feeder which can beinterchangeably used in conjunction with said pick and place assemblymachine; b. at least one adapter for interchangeably mounting saidfeeder to said pick and place assembly machine, and having a firstportion which is customized to accommodate said pick and place assemblymachine, and a second portion for receiving said feeder; c. said firstportion of said at least one adapter having means for establishingelectrical and electronic connection with said pick and place assemblymachine, and means for mounting and securing said at least one adapterto said pick and place assembly machine; d. said second portion of saidat least one adapter having means for establishing electrical andelectronic connection with said feeder, and means for mounting andsecuring said feeder to said at least one adapter; e. said at least oneadapter further comprising internal means between said first and secondportions for establishing electrical and electronic connection betweensaid feeder and said pick and place assembly machine; f. said feederhaving a self-contained low-profile housing for housing a carrier tapeguiding assembly, an indexing assembly, and an adjustable push-up toolassembly; g. said carrier tape guiding assembly having means foraccommodating different carrier tape widths, including a bottom supportplate for receiving said carrier tape thereon, a side rail integrallyformed with the bottom support plate at right angle, and a multiplicityof spaced apart spring-loaded wire guides attached to the bottom supportplate and remote from the side rail for biasing said carrier tapeinwardly towards the side rail but providing flexibility to accommodatedifferent carrier tape widths; h. said indexing assembly having asprocket wheel with sprocket teeth adapted to engage said successivesprocket holes on said carrier tape for advancing said indexed pocketsof said carrier tape to a push-up area, and means for driving thesprocket wheel; i. said adjustable push-up tool assembly having apush-up pin mechanism for allowing transverse-position adjustment of apush-up pin, and means for actuating said push-up pin mechanism topush-up said small components one at a time from said carrier tape whena successive one of said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area;and j. a control means electrically and electronically connected to andcontrolling said carrier tape guiding assembly, said indexing assembly,and said adjustable push-up tool assembly; k. whereby said pick andplace assembly machine picks up said small components one at a timedirectly from said carrier tape when the successive one of said indexedpockets arrives at said push-up area.
 42. The apparatus in accordancewith claim 41 wherein said electronic feeder further comprises aflip-converting assembly having a flipping mechanism for allowingflipping of said small components, and means for actuating the flippingmechanism to pick up and flip said small components one at a time fromsaid push-up area.
 43. An electronic feeder for feeding a carrier tapewith successive sprocket holes and indexed pockets for carrying smallcomponents, the electronic feeder comprising:a. a self-containedlow-profile housing for housing a carrier tape guiding assembly, anindexing assembly, and an adjustable push-up tool assembly; b. saidcarrier tape guiding assembly having means for accommodating differentcarrier tape widths, including a bottom support plate for receiving saidcarrier tape thereon, a side rail integrally formed with the bottomsupport plate at right angle, and a multiplicity of spaced apartspring-loaded wire guides attached to the bottom support plate andremote from the side rail for biasing said carrier tape inwardly towardsthe side rail but providing flexibility to accommodate different carriertape widths; c. said indexing assembly having a sprocket wheel withsprocket teeth adapted to engage said successive sprocket holes on saidcarrier tape for advancing said indexed pockets of said carrier tape toa push-up area, and means for driving the sprocket wheel; d. saidadjustable push-up tool assembly having a push-up pin mechanism forallowing transverse-position adjustment of a push-up pin, and means foractuating said push-up pin mechanism to push-up said small componentsone at a time from said carrier tape when a successive one of saidindexed pockets arrives at said push-up area; and e. a control meanselectrically and electronically connected to and controlling saidcarrier tape guiding assembly, said indexing assembly, and saidadjustable push-up tool assembly; f. whereby said small components arepicked up one at a time directly from said carrier tape when thesuccessive one of said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area. 44.The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 43 further comprising aset of adapters for interchangeably mounting said low-profile housing tovarious pick and place assembly machines.
 45. The electronic feeder inaccordance with claim 43 further comprising a flip-converting assemblyhaving a flipping mechanism for allowing flipping of said smallcomponents, and means for actuating said flipping mechanism to pick upand flip said small components one at a time from said push-up area. 46.An electronic feeder for feeding a carrier tape with successive sprocketholes and indexed pockets for carrying small components, the electronicfeeder comprising:a. a low-profile housing for housing a carrier tapeguiding assembly, an indexing assembly, and a push-up tool assembly; b.said carrier tape guiding assembly having means for accommodatingdifferent carrier tape widths, including a bottom support plate, a siderail, and at least two spaced apart spring-loaded wire guides forbiasing said carrier tape inwardly towards the side rail but providingflexibility to accommodate different carrier tape widths; c. saidindexing assembly having means adapted to engage said successivesprocket holes on said carrier tape for advancing said indexed pocketsof said carrier tape to a push-up area; d. said push-up tool assemblyhaving a push-up pin mechanism for allowing transverse-positionadjustment of a push-up pin, and means for actuating the push-up pinmechanism to push-up said small components one at a time from saidcarrier tape when a successive one of said indexed pockets arrives atsaid push-up area; and e. a control means electrically andelectronically connected to and controlling said carrier tape guidingassembly, said indexing assembly, and said push-up tool assembly; f.whereby said small components are picked up one at a time directly fromsaid carrier tape when the successive one of said indexed pocketsarrives at said push-up area.
 47. The electronic feeder in accordancewith claim 46 further comprising a set of adapters for interchangeablymounting said low-profile housing to various pick and place assemblymachines.
 48. The electronic feeder in accordance with claim 46 furthercomprising a flip-converting assembly having a flipping mechanism forallowing flipping of said small components, and means for actuating saidflipping mechanism to pick up and flip said small components one at atime from said push-up area.